What a VIN Number Can Tell You
Any vehicle born from 1981 to the present must have a VIN number. This number is typically 17 digits long and can contain any number from 0 to 9 and any alphabet letter excluding I, O, and Q – these are excluded as they could be confused with numbers.
Understanding all the characters on the VIN can appear complex, as they are long and very specialized. It does not have to be difficult because you only need a VIN check tool to decode it. The key to unlocking every piece of information behind a VIN is getting a free tool such as Free VIN Check. Navigate here to get started. If you’re still curious, this article will help you break down the basics.
Diagnosing the VIN
The VIN isn’t just a collection of random letters and numbers; every digit or group of characters implies something about the vehicle’s manufacturer or model. Here is a quick breakdown of these digits, starting with the first digit on the left:
The first three digits -1 to 3:
These are known as the World Manufacturer Identifiers – they give details about the manufacturing country and the company.
The first character identifies the country where the manufacturer or the company’s HQ is based. For example, vehicles beginning with 2 are built in Canada. The second and third VIN characters correspond to the manufacturing company.
The Fourth through the Eighth Digit:
This section is referred to as the Vehicle Description Section (VDS). Each of the characters in this section represents the technical aspects of the car, for example, styles, types of engines, body, seatbelt, airbags, model lines, and the vehicle series. Sometimes the manufacturer may not use one or more of these spaces. In such a case, the carmaker will choose letters or numbers to fill them.
Digits 9 to 11:
Characters in this section represent the security code, year, and vehicle assembly plant, respectively.I.e. digit 9 is the manufacturer security code, 10 is the model year, and 11 is for the manufacturing plant.
Digits 12 to 17:
The last section of the VIN is the Vehicle Identifying Section (VIS). It is no code but simply a unique serial number of the vehicle. Although they may include details on powertrain choices
What Information Can a VIN Number Tell You
Besides the above basic details on a car, the 17 characters also hold all you need to learn about any car’s history. VINs are more like Social Security Numbers for vehicles or more uniquely, their fingerprints. They are unique and alphanumeric identifiers and are viable for tracking information on any specific vehicle (a car, truck, or recreational vehicle).
The VIN is necessary for accessing the information on the vehicle’s title, liens, maintenance records, and other valuable vehicle history data.
Can You Run a VIN Number to Find Out Who Owns the Vehicle
A VIN may help you find every possible detail of a car’s history. Unfortunately, it does not reveal the owner of the vehicle. The name and other information regarding the owner of the vehicle (i.e, contact address or home address) are considered private. Hence they are protected by the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) of 1994. This act, through the DMV agency, heavily safeguards driver information. The closer you can get to finding out the owner is knowing the state in which the car was last titled.
To find out the owner of a vehicle, you need to follow an official process to request this information. Each state usually prescribes a procedure for requesting and accessing this DPPA-protected data. Note that you must have a legal or comparable purpose for wanting this information; otherwise, the DMV may fail to give you this data.
How Do You Find out Your Engine Size Using the VIN
You can determine the size of your engine from the Vehicle Descriptor Section of your VIN. This section has digits that describe specific parts of the vehicle, including the model, body style, and engine size. To decipher your engine size, you need a VIN Decoder such as FreeVINCheck to help you decode it.
Therefore, simply visit FreeVINCheck.com and in the provided space enter your vehicle’s VIN code. The system will run a VIN check, and in minutes you can decipher the size of your engine. You don’t need any special technical skills to run this site to determine your engine size using the VIN.
When You May Need a VIN and When to Find It
A vehicle’s VIN number is a requirement during manufacturer recalls, when making claims for warranty service, or when insuring the vehicle.
A VIN is also crucial when you want to buy or sell a used vehicle. For example, when purchasing a used vehicle, information on the vehicle’s history will let you know how much you should expect to pay for it or whether the car is worthy of purchase. Through a VIN check, you can always get valuable information about a specific vehicle’s accident and maintenance history, product recalls, past owner history, current liens, airbag deployment, and “lemon status.”
And when you are selling the vehicle, running a VIN check before you put it up for sale lets you learn about potential problems or questions buyers may have about the car. As a result, you can address the issues beforehand.
Before you run a VIN check to appreciate its importance, you need to know where to find it.
Where do you look for your car’s VIN?
VINs are mostly located on the driver’s side of the dashboard, they are visible when you look through the windshield from the outside. Other possible locations include inside the driver’s side door on the door frame’s rear side, on the engine block, and under the spare tire. Simply lift the spare tire to see the VIN.
When you can’t find the VIN on any part of the vehicle, please check the registration card, insurance documents, and vehicle title. However, note that a VIN on the vehicle is the most important and is more reliable than the one on the documents.
Other vehicles, including utility trailers, campers, and boat trailers, also have VINs. To look for the VIN for these vehicles, check on the side of the trailer hitch. Travel trailers usually have their VIN tags inside a cabinet in the trailer. While RVs have the VIN tags in a similar location as cars (on the driver’s dashboard).
Conclusion
A VIN lookup is a great way to conduct a vehicle search. However, you need a VIN lookup tool that gives little to no room for imprecise vehicle details. Free VIN Check can help you access accurate VIN checks for free. Visit Free VIN Check for instant and comprehensive vehicle reports.
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more